Circuit breaker



June 26,- 1945. H. PEEK CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 4, 1942 INVENTOR Hen/y Li/ eek.

ATTORN WITNESSES:

Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,379,178 cmcUI'r BREAKER HenryLLPeek, camp Gordon; Gal, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation; East Pitts" burgh, Pa., a corporation'of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1942, Serial No; 445,733

17 Claims.

The invention relates to, circuit interrupters and more particularly to circuit breaker operating means of the fluid or gas pressure type.

In the design of compressed air or gas operating means for circuit breakers which have relativel'yheavy contact loads, a combination of op crating gas pressure and operating piston area must be selected which will develop suflicient driving power to overcome the heavy contact load which is picked up during the latter part of the closing stroke after the contacts touch. If thebreaker is to be used for quick reclosing service,

sufiicient power must also be developedto quickly reverse the movement of the breaker onquick reclosing operations which are preferably initiated at any intermediate point in the opening stroke. If the largedriving force required for these conditions is applied during the first part of the closing stroke on normal closing operations from the full open position, the circuit breaker will be operated at such a high speed and the kinetic energy developed will be so large that it may result in destructive slamming of the breaker and mechanism. I

An object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breaker having fluid pressure operating means which automatically applies a greater closing force during the latter portion of. the closing stroke than during the first part of the closin operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision otva circuit breaker having a fluid pressure or compressed gas operating meanswhich applies a predetermined closing force during the first party of a closing operationstarting from the ful1- open position and automatically exerts an increased closing force during the final portion of the closing stroke and also on quick automatic reclosing operations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of: a.circuit breaker with a compressed gas operating means having an automatic throttle means which throttles the flow of operating gas a predetermined amount during the first part of the closing stroke starting from the full open position of the breaker, and which automaticallyopens near the end of the closing stroke to therebyincrease the closing power when the heavy contact load of the breaker is picked up.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breaker as described in the preceding paragraph, wherein the automatic throttle means remains in 'the'open or non-throttling position during a quick reclosing operation thusadmitting a large quantity of operating gas to quickly reverse the motion of the breaker and reclose the breaker at high speed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a circuit breaker having'a compressed gas opcrating means and automatic throttle meansas described in the preceding "paragraphs wherein the throttle means comprises a throttle valve automatically operated by mechanical means in accordance with the position and movement of IO the breaker or the operatingpiston.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a compressed air operated circuit breaker with an 1 automatic mechanically operated throttle .valve, operation of which is initiated'by a part movable with the breaker operating piston.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compressed gas circuit breaker operating mechanism with an automatic throttle valve which is adjustable-so that the operating 'mechanism canbe used on: various sizes of circuit breakers havingfclosing loadsvarying' from a low value up to the highest I capacity of the mechanism.

Further objects and advantagesof the present invention will become apparent from the l ollowingdetailed description of oneembodiment thereof, reference being had to the, accompanying drawing in which:

, Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly insection, of a compressed air circuit breaker operating mechanism embodying the invention, the circuit breaker being: shown schematically, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the throttle valve element as viewed at 5 right angles to the showing thereof in Fig. l.

The present invention is=illustrated as applied to a circuit ,breaker' operating means similar to' that disclosed in the copending applicationof James M.-'Cumming and R. C. Cunningham, Serial No. 410,686, filed September 13, 1941, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. In certain aspects the present invention is an improvement over the circuit'breaker operating means disclosed and claimed in the copendingapplication of Rich ard C. Cunningham,.'Serial No. 410,870, filed Sep tember 15,1941, whlch'ls also assignedto the same assignee as the present invention. In" the last mentioned application Serial No. 410,870, a throttle valve isprovided which is pneumatically operated toopen position on'quick' recl0Sing"operationstoquickly reverse the movement of the breaker. In the present inventionyasdistinguished from application Serial No. 410,870,: the automatic throttle" valve is operated mechanically during; the latter portion of the closing stroke of the piston to provide an increased flow of com pressed air during the final portion'of the closing stroke, and the throttle valve is also maintained in open position during quick reclosing operations.

Referring to the drawing, the circuit breaker represented schematicall at 1 may be of any conventional construction either of the oil break or air break type. The circuit breaker, as schematically shown, comprises stationary contact means 9 and movable contact means I I. Most conventional circuit breakers usually embody a contact pressure spring construction for maintaining the desired pressure engagement of the.

contacts in the closed position. The main bridging contact is usually backed by springs to secure contact pressure. The contact pressure securing means is represented very schematically in the drawing by the resilient laminated leaf spring construction of the movable contact member.

Although illustrated as a single pole circuit breaker, it will, of course, be understood that the breaker may be a multipole circuit breaker having a set of contacts 9 and I I for each pole thereof with the movable contacts mechanically connected for simultaneous operation in the usual manner. The circuit breaker is biased to open circuit position by means of an accelerating spring shown schematically at l5, and the breaker is mechanically connected to the operating mechanism indicated generally at I1 b a suitable connecting means. The connecting means is represented schematically as comprising a lever I9, pivoted at 2|, on a fixed support, one end of the lever being pivotally connected to the breaker lift rod 23 and the other end being pivotally connected to an operating rod 25 which is, in turn, mechanically connected to the operating mechanism I1.

The operating mechanism comprises a main casting 21 which is formed to provide a cylinder 29 closed at the upper end by an integral part of the casting. IA closure member 3| is secured to the lower end of the cylinder 29, this closure member having a relatively large port 33 therein open to the atmosphere. An operating or latching lever 35 is pivotally mounted at one end on the casting 21. The operating lever consists of two spaced parallel levers 31 which are pivotally connected at one end by means of a pivot pin 39 to the upper end of a pair of links 4| (only one being shown) pivotally mounted on the main casting 21. The free end of the levers 31 comprising the operating lever are connected by a cross member and carry a short shaft 45 therebetween on which is rotatably mounted a latching roller 41 disposed between the levers 31. The breaker operating rod 25 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 49 to the midpoint of the operating lever 35, the pivot pin extending transversely through the levers 31 and engaging an opening in the lower end of the rod 25. The breaker operating lever is adapted to be held in closed position to hold the breaker closed by means of the high speed latching mechanism comprising a main latch 5| which is pivoted on the main casting 21 by a pivot pin 53. The latch 5| is adapted to extend between the parallel levers 31 and its latch end is adapted to engage and restrain the latching roller 41 carried by the free end of the operating lever 35. The latch 5| is biased to latching position against a stop 55 by means of a spring pressed plunger 51. An auxiliary latch 61 is provided for normally engaging and holding the main latch 5| in latching position. The auxiliary latch 61 is pivoted on the casting 21 by a pivot pin 89 and has a latch projection 1I adapted to engage under a projection 13 of the latch 5|. A spring 15 biases the auxiliary latch 61 to latching position. The auxiliary latch is provided with a projection 11 which extends directly over the upper end of the trip plunger 19 of an electromagnetic trip device 8|.

The trip device 8| comprises, in addition to the trip plunger 19, an E-shaped core 83 of magnetic material, an energizing winding 85 mounted on the center leg of the core and the movable armature 81 cooperating with the core 83. The trip plunger 19 is secured to the center portion of the armature 81 and slidably extends upwardly through a guide opening in the center leg of the core 83 and through an opening in the horizontal portion of the main casting 21. A spring 89 biases the armature 81 downwardly to unattracted position.

When the trip device BI is energized, the armature 81 thereof is moved upwardly against the core 83 causing upward movement of the trip plunger 19. This upward movement of the trip plunger moves the auxiliary latch 51 counterclockwise and disengages the projection 13 of the main latch 5| whereupon the accelerating spring I5 of the circuit breaker moves the breaker to open position, the operating lever 35 being rotated counterclockwise about its pivoted end by the opening movement of the breaker. During the initial opening movement of the operating lever 35 the roller 41 pushes the main latch 5| in a counterclockwise direction as it clears the latch. In order to prevent the auxiliary latch 61 from returning to latching position until the breaker lever 35 is returned to closed position, there is provided a U-shaped balance lever 95, the legs of which are pivotally mounted on the extending ends of the pivot pin 59 on opposite sides of the auxiliary latch 61. The balance lever is biased counterclockwise by a compression spring 91 which is seated in a recess in the casting 21 and engages the under side of a projection 99 of the balance lever. A cross member IOI on the free end of the balance lever 95 is disposed directly beneath the free end of the operating lever 35 so that the balance lever will be held down in an inoperative position when the operating lever 35 is in closed and latched position. However, when the operating lever 35 is released the balance lever 95 is rocked counterclockwise and the portion 99 thereof engages and holds the auxiliary latch 61 in unlatching position until the breaker operating lever 35 is returned'to its closed position and its roller has become reengaged under the latch face of the main. latch 5|. For this purpose, the biasing spring 91 is stronger than the auxiliary latch spring 15.

An operating piston I03 is rcciprocably movable within the operating cylinder 29, and this piston has a piston rod I01 which slidably extends in a fluid-tight manner through an opening provided therefor in the top wall of the cylinder 29. The upper end of the piston rod I01 has a connecting element I09 thrcadedly connected thereto which is pivotally connected to the pivot pin 49 carried by the operating or latching lever 35. Thus the operating piston I03 is mechanically connected directly to the circuit breaker operating rod 25.

The operating piston I03 is adapted to be moved downwardly in the cylinder 29, to close or automatically reclose the circuit breaker, by compressed air from an auxiliary air reservoir or tank III, the compressed air being admitted o1 the closing means.

main valve element I2I mounted in the valve housing. The main valve element 'I2I is adapted to be operated to open position by'a valve piston '(not shown) upon energization'of the valve controlling electromagnet Ill, and thevalve is returned to closed position by springmeans (not shown) upon deenergization of the electromagnet I I1.

In order to provide for quick'reversal of movement of the operating piston I03 and circuit breaker 1 to provide the effect of trip-free operation of the circuit breaker,' the mechanism is provided with an airpressure exhaust means similar to that'disclose'd inthe aforementioned c'opending application Serial No. 410,686. The air pressure exhaust means causes quick collapse of air presure in the operating cylinder above the piston I83 whenever'the trip device 8| is operated so as to dump the pressure air to atmosphere and thereby permit quick opening of the circuit breaker. The 'airpressure exhaust means is'fullyv disclosed in the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 410,686 and comprisesair pressure-exhaustports I23 formed in the side of the operating cylinder which are adapted to'be connected to atmosphere by a main exhaust valve (not shown). Themain exhaust valve is automatioally opened'by' the air pressure above the operating piston I03 when a .pilot valve I25 is opened 'inresponse to operation of the trip devicefl l. The exhaust ports I'23'are of la'rgersiz'e than the compressed air inlet passage I I2 so that thebreaker will-be opened quickly upon operation of the trip device 81 eventhough the main inlet valve may be open and admitting com.- pressed air tothe cylinder at the time the trip device is'operated. Thus the breaker is tripfree The ports 123 are solocated that they are closed by the operating piston early in the opening movement of the breaker before the piston reaches the intermediate positionat which compressed air is admitted for accomplishing quick reclosing operation of the 'circuit breaker. p

The compressed air operatin means is operable to produce normal closing operations of the circuit'breaker starting from the full openp'ositionofthe breaker, and is alsooperable to effect quick automatic re'closing operations of the breaker wherein the reclosing movement is initiated at an intermediate'point in the opening stroke of the breaker after'the circuit is interruptedbut before the breaker reaches full open position. The control circuits forcontrolling the operation of the electromagnet inlet valve I I I and the trip device 8| "are preferably the same as the controlcircuits disclosed in the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 410,686. These control circuits have not been shown in this application asthey are unnecessaryfor a complete understanding of the present invention. It is believed suflicientto statethat the tripping electromagnett I' is energized in response to an overload "or short circuit'in the'main circuit, and alsoby Liz a manual :trip control :switch. For quick automatic reclosing operations; the inlet valve controlling 'eleotroma'gnet I I1 is automatically energized 'by an auxiliary switch at an intermediate point in the opening stroke of the breaker to cause the inlet valve to admit compressed air to the -operating cylinderat this time. The electromagnet I II may also'be energizedby a manual closing control switch to efiect closing operation of the circuit'breaker'from the fullopen position of the breaker. Reference may be had to the aforementioned copending application for the details of the control circuits for accomplishing the aboveoper'ations.

The circuit breaker operating'mechanism as thus far described, is the same as that disclosed in the aforementioned 'copending application Seriai No. 410,686.

In accordance with the present invention, the

circuit breaker operating means is provided with 7 an automatic throttle means which is effective to throttle the flow'of compressed air to the operating cylinder a predetermined amount during the first part of the closing stroke of the operating piston on normal closing operation of the circuitbreaker; and which is'automatically operated to as open or non throttling position during the latter'portion of the closing stroke to permit compressed air to flow to the operating cylinder at an increased rate during'the final portion of the closing stroke. Compressed air is admitted relatively slowly by the throttle during the first part of the normal closing operation thus decreasing the tendency of the operatingmechanism to slam. A larger quantity of compressed air is admitted to the operating cylinder by the throttle during the final portion of the closing stroke thereby providing sufiicient driving power to overcome the relatively heavy contact load imposed by the contact pressure spring means during the final portion of the closing stroke. The throttle means is also constructed so that it will remain in open position during the majorportion of the opening stroke of th'e'operating piston and during quick reclosing operations, thereby admitting the larger quantity of compressed air necessary to quickly reverse the movementiof the circuit breaker and quickly reclose the same.

The automatic throttlemeans comprises'a cylindrical piston shaped valve element I 3I slidably "mounted in a vertically disposed cylindrical recess I33 which crosses'the inlet air passage H2 in the inlet'valve'housing US. A closure cap I35 is secured in the upper end of the cylindrical recess I33 "for closing the upper end of. this recess. The valve element I3I is threadedly mounted on the central portion of a rod I31 which slidably extends in a fluid-tight manner through openings provided therefor in the closure member I35 and in the bottom of the valve housing I I 9. The valve element I3I is secured in mounted position on the rod I31 by a retaining pin (not shown). The upper end of the rodI3'I is'threadedly connected to a U-shaped connecting element I35, a

'through'enlarged openings provided therefor in a pair of supporting arms I5I which are secured to the closure member I35. A compression spring I53 is mounted on each toggle rod and disposed in compression between the head I41 and supporting arm II of the rod.

The valve element I3I is adapted to be actuated to its throttling position shown in Fig. 1 during the latter part of the opening stroke of the breaker and operating piston, and actuated to its open or non-throttling position during the latter portion of the closing stroke of the breaker operating piston. A link I55 is provided for the purpose of initiating the actuation of the valve element I3I at the proper time. The connecting link I55 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the knee of the actuating toggle by means of the pivot pin I49, and the upper portion of the link is provided with an elongated slot I51 which engages a pin or stud I59 projecting laterally from the breaker operating lever 35. An adjusting screw I6I is threaded into the upper end of the link I55 and the lower end of this screw is adapted to extend into the upper portion of the slot I51. The adjustment of the screw I6I determines the point in the opening stroke of the breaker operating piston at which actuation of the valve element I3I to its throttling postion will be initiated. An adjustable collar I63 may be mounted on the link I55 adjacent the lower end of the slot I51 to determine the point at which actuation of the valve element I3I to its open position will be initiated.

Adjustment of the throttling position, that is, the degree of throttling of the valve I3I is accomplished by means of a pair of lock nuts I65 which are threaded on the extending lower end of the valve rod I31. These look nuts act as an adjustable stop to determine the upper or throttling position of the valve element I3I. Adjustment of the open or non-throttling position of the valve element I3I is accomplished by means of a pair of lock nuts I61 which are threaded on the upper portion of the valve rod I31. These look nuts I61 limit the amount of downward movement of the valve element I3I and thus determine the size of the air opening provided in the open position of the valve element I3I. The inlet air passage H2 is of general triangular shape, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2', so as to provide for a maximum range of adjustment of the throttle opening provided by the valve element I3I in the throttle position thereof. In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve element I3I provides a relatively high degree of throttling since only the apex of the triangular shaped inlet passage I I2 is uncovered by the valve element in the throttling position thereof. If the lock nuts I65 are backed oil, the size of the throttle opening will be decreased and if the lock nuts are screwed upwardly on the rod the size of the throttle opening will be increased.

The operation of the mechanism is briefly as follows: When the circuit breaker is in the full open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the throttle valve element I3I is maintained in the throttling position asshown, in which it will act to throttle the flow of compressed air to the upper end of the cylinder a predetermined amount. To close the circuit breaker, the inlet valve controlling electromagnet I I1 is energized by closing a manual control switch. Energization of the electromagnet II1 opens the pilot valve H5 and thereby causes opening of the main inlet valve I2I. Upon opening of the main inlet valve I2I compressed air flows through the inlet passage II2 into the upper end of the operating cylinder 29 and moves the operating piston I03 downwardly to closed position to effect closing of the circuit breaker. During the first part of the closing stroke, the throttle valve I3I is maintained in throttling position in which it throttles the flow of compressed air to the cylinder a predetermined amount admitting air to the operating cylinder relatively slowly. Shortly before the contacts of the circuit breaker touch, the projecting pin I59 will engage the bottom of the slot I 51 in the link I55 and thereby initiate actuation of the throttle valve I3I to its open position. As soon as the knee pin I49 of the actuating toggle is moved downwardly through the deadcenter position, the sprin toggle actuates the valve element I3I downwardly to its open position with a snap action, thus the valve element I3I is actuated to open throttle position during the latter portion of the closing stroke of the breaker operating piston and allows the compressed air to flow at an increased rate into the operating cylinder and. thereby provide a relatively large driving force during the final portion of the closing stroke of the operating piston. When the circuit breaker reaches the fully closed position, the latching roller 41 is engaged under the main latch 5| and the breaker is held latch closed by the latching mechanism. As soon as the breaker reaches the fully closed position, the valve controlling electromagnet I I1 is deenergized and the main inlet valve I2I returns to closed position shutting off the flow of compressed air to the operating cylinder 29.

If an overload or short circuit occurs in the circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, the trip device 8| will be immediately energized and the trip plunger 19 thereof quickly moved upwardly to eifect release of the latching mechanism and at the same time opening of the exhaust pilot valve I25. The release of the latching mechanism comprising the auxiliary latch 61 and main latch 5| permits the circuit breaker to be moved quickly to open position by its accelerating spring I5. The opening of the exhaust pilot valve I25 will cause the main exhaust valve to open if there is any substantial air pressure in the operating cylinder above the piston I03, to thereby dump the air to atmosphere through the exhaust ports I23.

If the circuit breaker is set for quick automatic reclosing operation, the inlet valve controlling electromagnet I I1 will be automatically energized early in the opening stroke of the circuit breaker thereby causing the inlet valve I2I to open and admit compressed air to the operating cylinder during the opening movement. The throttle valve I3I remains in the open or non-throttling position during the major portion of the opening stroke and hence will be in open position at the time compressed air is admitted for quick reclosing and will remain open during the quick reclosing operation. This is due to the length of the slot I51 in the connecting link I 55. Since the throttle valve I3I is in the open throttle position a large quantity of compressed air will be admitted to the operating cylinder and the compressed air will quickly reverse the movement of the operating piston and initiate the reclosing movement of the operating piston at an intermediate point in the opening stroke before the circuit breaker reaches full open position. The reclosing movement proceeds and if the fault or overload condition which caused the initial opening has been cleared, the circuit breaker will be driv n to the f ly: os d posi ion en trelatqlied- The inlet valve controllingtelectromagnet; l,|,-l will be deenergized. and the inlet valve L21; returned to, closed position. when the; brealger reaches the fully, closed and latched position. However, if the overload or fault condition isstill present atthe time the circuit; breakercontacts reach the touch position during the reclosing movement, the trip device 8! will be immediately energizedin response to the overload, condition and will retrip the breaker by releasing the latching mechanism and simultaneously opening the exhaust pilot valve I25. The openin of; the e haust pilot valve l25;wi 11 causethe main exhaust valve to open and dump the closing airfrom, the operating cylinder to atmosphere so that it will not retard the opening movement of the circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker may be manually tripped bymeans of the manual tripcontrolswiteh which A eflectseneigization of the trip device. 81. The circuit breaker will be moved quickly to. the full open circuit position and during the. latter part of the opening movement shortly. before the breaker reaches its full open position, the. projecting pin I59 on the breaker operating lever will engage the adjusting screw l.6l adjacent the end of the slot I51 and initiate actuation. ofthe throttle valve element I31 to its. throttling. position shown in Fig. l. The snap action toggle will.

thereby be caused to snap to its upper vovercenter position shown, moving the valve with a snap action to its throttling position. The mechanism isnow ready for a normal closing operation;

From the foregoing, it will be seen .that'theu' automatic throttle valve I31 causes the flow. of

compressed air to. the. operating cylinder to be throttled a predetermined amount duringthefirst part ofeach closing operation started from'full open position, and the throttle valve is automatically opened during the. latter 'part of the closing stroke of the operating pistonthereby admitting a large quantity of air to the upper side of the: operating piston during the final portion ofthe closing'st'roke. The throttle valve remains in the .open' throttle position during. the major portion of the opening stroke of the operatingpiston and during quick reclosing operations,'dueto the elongated slot I51 in the connecting link-115.5, so that an increased quantity of air will beadmitted to the operating cylinder on quick reclosing operations The lock nuts 165 and [61 provide a means for adjusting both the throttling and .the open throttle position of'the throttle element 131. This enables a single mechanism to be used .for operating a number of different sized breakers. The adjusting screw IN is set so that the throttle valve I3! will not be. actuated to its throttling position until late in the opening stroke. ofthe.

circuit breaker in order to insure that thevalve element will remain in its open position during quick reclosing operations.

While the invention has been disclosed in .accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in the structural details and arrangement of parts may be madezwithout departing from some of the essential features of theinvention. Although the throttle valve has been shown as applied to a certain specific .type of compressed air operating means, it will be understood that the invention is also applicable to 'other types' of compressed air .or compressed gas operatingmeans for circuit breakers. It is desired, therefore, that .the lansi a e heap ndesil le e. e v i e roa nableYinte rotation, permissible in a, the

valveinelud ng an actuating member connected o, said; alv and, eans m ab e with. aid. 1 ton and, engageable with said actuating member o. in ia e actuat on f Said. wire; r m. id one osii qn. o an o en .12 it e du he, latter portion or. the cl s n movement o s d Piston on norma clo inaone ations o the bre k r a v v rema nin sta ioner nse p position du in he meio ro o 1 t eori ni r e of the bre e and. e n actu ied s id one Position .Qll y durin ,lihe latter portion of the opening movement oi said. breaker. l

2. Compressed gasoperating, means for acircuit breaker comprising a cylinder, anoperating pistonin said cylinder operable to closethe breaker, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston, means'ror automatically controlling the rate ot nowhorgastt saidcy inder c mp isin a a v avi oneposition in which the flow areas t said cyiinderisthrottled a p ede e mi d. amo

actuation of said valve from said one position to said open position being initiated in response to the; movement of said piston during the latter portion of the closing movement of the piston, and said valve beingactuated, to saidone position in'responseto the movement of said piston during the latter portion of: the. opening movement of said piston.

3 .-Compressed gasuoperating means for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, an operating piston in said cylinder op ra le to c o e the breaker, a source of com ressed a for operating said piston, means for automatically control- .ling therate of flow of gas to said cylinder comprising a valve having one position in which the flow, ofgas-to said .cylinderis throttled a predetermined amount by said means and having an n p siti n in whi h it p rm t as to flow to said. cylinder at an increased rate, actuating means forqsaid valve incl ding spring m a for quickly moving said valve from said one osition to. said open position, and means movable with said piston for initiating actuation of said valve. to said open position during the latter por- .tion of the closing mov m t f said pi to said valve. being actuated to, said one position in response to the movement of said piston during the latter portion of the opening movement of said piston.- 4. Compressed gas operating means for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in saidv cylinder {operable to close the breaker, a lever connected .tosaid piston, a source of comressedgasfor operatinesaid piston, a valve for controlling the flow- .of' gas to; said cylinder for closing the breaker, actuating meansfor said valve including a spring actuated toggle and an actuating member connected to said valve, said actuating member having a lost motion connection with said lever for causing said valve to be actuated from one position to an open position during the latter part of the closing movement of said piston and for causing said valve to be actuated to said one position during the latter part of the opening movement of the piston.

5. Compressed gas operating means for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close the breaker, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston, means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of gas to said cylinder for closing the breaker comprising a valve having one position in which the flow of gas to said cylinder is throttled a predetermined amount by said means and having an open position in which it permits gas to flow to said cylinder at an increased rate, means for adjusting the degree of throttling provided by said means, actuating means for said valve, means movable with said.piston and engageable with said valve'actuating means for initiating the actuation of said valve from said one position to said open position during the latter part of the closing stroke of said operating piston, and adjusting means for adjusting the amount of opening provided by said valve in the open position thereof.

6. In combination, a circuit breaker movable to open and to closed circuit position, compressed gas operating means therefor comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operable to close the breaker, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston, means comprising a valve and actuating mechanism therefor mechanicall actuated in response to predetermined movements of the breaker for limiting the flow of gas to said cylinder to a predetermined rate during the first part of the closing stroke of the piston started from the full open position and for automatically causing gas to be supplied to said cylinder at a substantially increased rate during the latter part of such closing stroke and also during the entire stroke traversed by said piston on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

7. In an electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a fluid motor for operating the circuit breaker, a supply system for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, oriflce means through Which fluid under pressure is supplied to said motor and means for controlling said orifice means in response to predetermined movements of said fluid motor for causing a predetermined driving force to be applied to the motor by fluid under pressure during the flrst part of the closing stroke of said fluid motor on normal closing operations of the breaker and for automatically causing a substantially increased driving force to be applied to said fluid motor by fluid under pressure during the latter portion of the closing stroke of the motor on normal closing operations and also during substantially the entire reclosing stroke traversed by the motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

8. In an electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a fluid motor for closing the circuit breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, means including variable orifice means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to said motor and actuating means for said variable orifice means controlled by predetermined movements of said motor for causing fluid under pressure to be supplied to the motor at a predetermined limited rate during the first part of the closing stroke of the motor on normal closing operations and for causing fluid under pressure to be supplied to the motor at a substantially increased rate during the latter part of such normal closing stroke of the motor and also at said increased rate during substantially the entire stroke traversed by the motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

9. In an electric circuit breaker comprising a pair of relatively movable contacts, a. fluid motor for closing said circuit breaker, a'source of fluid under pressure, means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid under pressure to said motor comprising a valve, actuating means for said valve controlled by predetermined movements of said motor operable to automatically actuate said valve from one position to open position during the latter part of the closing stroke of said motor on normal closing operations of said circuit breaker and for causing said valve to remain stationary in open position during the entire stroke traversed by said fluid motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of said circuit breaker.

10. In an electric circuit breaker comprising a pair of relatively movable contacts, a fluid motor for closing said circuit breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid under pressure to said motor comprising a valve, actuating means for said valve having a lost motion operative relation with said fluid motor for actuating said valve from one position to an open position during the latter part of the closing movement of the motor on normal closing operations of the breaker and for causing said valve to remain in said open position during the entire stroke traversed by said motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the circuit breaker.

1. In an electric circuit breaker comprising a pair of relatively movable contacts, a fluid motor for closing said circuit breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to operate said circuit breaker, means including a valve for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to said motor, actuating means for said valve comprising a spring and an actuating member having a lost motion operative relation with said fluid motor for causing said valve to be actuated from one positor on normal closing operations of the breaker and to remain in said open position during the major part of opening stroke of said motor and for causing said valve to be actuated to said one position during the latter part of the opening stroke of the motor.

12. In an electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts,a fluid motor for operating said circuit breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to actuate said breaker to closed circuit position, connecting means through which fluid under pressure is supplied to said motor, a valve associated with said connecting means having one position in which it closes at least part of said connecting means whereby the flow of fluid to said motor is limited to predetermined rate and having an open position in which it allows fluid to be supplied to the motor at a substantially increased rate, actuating means for said valve operable to actuate said valve from said one position to open position during the latter part of the closing stroke of said motor on normal closing operations of the breaker and for causing said valve' to remain stationary in said open position during the major portion of the opening stroke of said motor and during the entire stroke traversed by said motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

13. In an electric circuit breakercomprising relatively movable contacts, a fluid motor for operating said circuit breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to actuate the breaker to closed position, connecting means through which fluid under pressure is supplied to said motor, a valve associated with said connecting means having one position in which it closes at least a part of said connecting means to thereby limit the rate of flow of fluid to said motor and having an open position in which it allows fluid to be supplied to said motor at a substantially increased rate, actuating means for said valve controlled in response to predetermined movements of said motor for causing said valve to remain in said one position during the first part of the closing stroke of said motor on normal closing operations of the breaker and to be actuated to open position during the latter part of the closing stroke of said motoron normal closing operations of the breaker and to remain in open posiiton during the entire reclosing stroke traversed by the motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

14. In an electric circuit breaker having relatively movable contacts, operating means therefor comprising an operating cylinder having a piston therein operatively related with said breaker, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to close the breaker, connecting means through which fluid under pressure is supplied to said cylinder, a valve associated with said connecting means having one position in which flow of fluid to the motor is limited to a predetermined rate and having an open position in which it allows fluid to be supplied to said cylinder at a substantially increased rate, actuating means for said valve controlled in response to predetermined movements of said piston, said valve remaining in said one position during the first part of the closing stroke of said piston on normal closing operations of the breaker and being actuated to open position during-the latter part of such closing stroke of the piston and remaining stationary in said open position during the major part of the opening stroke of the breaker and during the entire reclosing stroke traversed by the piston on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker, said valve being actuated to said one position during the latter part of the opening stroke of the breaker.

15. In an electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, operating means therefor comprising a fluid motor, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor to actuate the breaker to closed position, connecting means through which fluid under pressure 1 is supplied to said motor, a valve associated with said connecting means having one position in which the flow of fluidto said motor is limited to a predetermined rate, said valve having an open position in which it allows fluid under pressure to be supplied to said motor at a substantially increased rate, actuating means for said valve for causing said valve to remain in said one position during the first part of the closing stroke of said motor on normal closing operations of the circuit breaker and for actuating said valve to open position during the latter part of such closing stroke of the motor, said actuating means causing said valve to remain stationary in open position during the major portion of the opening stroke of the breaker and during the entire stroke traversed by the motor on instantaneous reclosing operations of the breaker.

16. Compressed gas operating means for a circuit breaker comprising a cylinder, an operating piston in said cylinder operable to close the breaker, a source of compressed gas for operating said piston, means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of gas through said cylinder including a valve having one position in which the flow of gas to said cylinder is limited to a predetermined rate by said means, said valve having an open position in which it permits gas to flow to said cylinder at an increased rate, actuating means for said valve including an actuating member connected to said valve, and means rendering said actuating member responsive to movement of the breaker to initiate actuation of said valve from said one position to said open position during the latter portion of the closing movement of said piston on normal closing operations of the breaker, said valve remaining stationary in said open position during the major portion of the opening stroke of the breaker and being actuated to said one position only during the latter portion of the opening movement of said breaker.

17. In combination, a circuit breaker having relatively movable contact means movable to an open circuit position and to a closed circuit posi tion, operating mechanism for closing said breaker comprising a cylinder having mounted therein a piston operatively connected to the movable contact means, supply means for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder for effecting operation of said piston, valve means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of fluid under pressure from said supply means to said cylinder, means actuated by said operating mechanism as said piston approaches the limit of its contact opening stroke for rendering said valve means operative to limit the flow of fluid to said cylinder to a predetermined rate during the first part of a subsequent contact closing stroke, means actuated by said operating mechanism as said piston approaches the limit of its contact closing stroke for causing-said valve means to increase th rate flow of fluid to said cylinder during the final part of such closing stroke, and means controlled by said operating mechanism for maintaining said valve in the position for efiecting supply of fluid at an increased rate during substantially the entire re closing stroke traversed by said piston on in stantaneous reclosing operations of the circuit breaker.

HENRY L. PEEK. 

